The Real Freelance Economy by Marc Charles

Freelance Heaven!

6:10 AM

Hi Gang:

I’ve made hundreds of thousands of dollars freelancing, so I know it works.

More important, I’ve helped thousands of people cash in on the freelance craze.

So believe me…..you CAN generate cash as freelancer….and its easier than you think. Got a full time job or another business? No problem, you can do this on the side.

I’ll give you the truth about freelancing so you can start making money in the next few hours or days.

The Truth About the Economy…..

The economy is in shambles, unemployment is still at historic highs.

The so-called “greatest companies of the new millennium” are laying off people in droves!

Companies like Yahoo!, AOL, Facebook, Google, and Cisco have quietly turned on the “layoff spigot” too.

But this is GREAT NEWS for freelance workers. I’m dead serious.

The world hasn’t ended just because a preacher said it would.

No sir.

We both know it’s pretty dismal… businesses are slashing debt, expenses and wasteful spending (i.e. lazy employees) like crazy.

But the world hasn’t ended and some businesses are growing like wildfire!

And many businesses, let’s say hundreds of thousands, have discovered the power of using freelance and contract workers.

We may discover this time will be referred to as the “Freelance Decade”.

This Is NOT a Good Time to Be Fired!

Last week S.E. invited me to lunch at a swanky seaside bistro.

He told me his job as a high-level graphic designer was coming to a close. Apparently his employer is bankrupt, and was closing up shop because no one would buy it.

“You warned me this would happen…..three years ago”, S.E. exclaimed.

He went on…. “This is NOT a good time to be fired. Geez, my wife’s at home with our baby all day…she can’t work outside the home”!

I said, “Hey, it’s not a big deal. I know you’re upset. But if you start thinking like a freelance expert rather than an employee you’ll be ahead of the game”.

“What’s more, your wife could grab a small freelance gig too if she has the time”, I added.

S.E. mumbled…. “I know you’ve mentioned freelancing before. But I don’t have time for little “side projects”. I need good paying projects NOW!”

“Okay”, I said. “Give me $500 and I’ll have three freelance projects for you by Monday (it was Thursday afternoon)”.

S.E. shot back, “$500? Is that your fee or what”?

“I want to see if you’re serious. Write me a check for $500. When you land the right freelance project I’ll give your money back”, I said smiling.

S.E. landed a freelance project the following Tuesday. It only took four days.

Here’s the Secret to Freelance Gigs…

If you type “freelance projects” into Google your head will be swimming in search results.

There are thousands of so-called freelance websites on the Internet. Most of them are designed to get YOUR money in the form of “membership fees” and other services.

Granted, there are a handful of freelance sites worth the money you spend on membership fees…I’ll show you the ones I like.

But you don’t have to succumb to the majority of BS freelance sites on the Internet.

When you’re done reading this week’s issue you’ll be able to can start landing “legitimate” freelance projects in record time.

I know what I’m talking about when it comes to freelancing. I’ve been doing it on one level or another for more than 30 years.

And get this….

I was approached by a senior TV executive to produce a “Freelance Channel”! Can you imagine? It might work…but I would focus on YouTube rather than TV.

I’m the “Go To Guy” when it comes to freelance work!

Welcome to “Freelance Heaven”…..

Take This Job and Shove It! 

E.J  worked for the largest insurance company in South Africa as a network “gopher”. 

He would “go for” things and perform mundane tasks for three senior managers.

One day, without warning, E.J. was fired….by email. He was devastated and humiliated. He was escorted from his desk, cardboard box in hand, out of the building and asked to leave company property.

The funny thing is….E.J. was a devoted employee. He didn’t break any laws, polices, procedures or screw anything up.

However….E.J. said he made a terrible mistake…and it was political.

E.J. started mocking senior management’s political affiliations and poked fun at them at a local company watering hole.

He violated the corporate cardinal sin: politics is everything.

Anyway, E.J. was referred to me by a goodfriend when he relocated to the US.

When I saw the depth of E.J’s expertise….and more than three pages of testimonials and referrals…..I suggested he start working as a freelance network administrator or security consultant. 

E.J. was not thrilled. He thought I was going to offer him a job.

On top of that, E.J. never worked for himself. He worked at the same company for ten years. So he was afraid to go out on his own (without a safety net or benefits).

I told him, “I know you’re nervous about going out on your own and working as a freelance contractor. But you can get a job and freelance on the side until the money convinces you”.

E.J was all ears now.

I showed him how and where to find clients immediately…as in hours or days not months or years.

In less than three months E.J was in business working fulltime as a freelance network administrator, and he quit so “secure” job.  Today E.J is turning clients away and focusing on the highest paying ones (his words not mine).

E.J. told me he’s making eight times as much as a freelancer than as an employee.

That’s what I’m talking about!

And get this……

E.J. was recently approached by insurance company in South Africa that fired him! He never responded to their call or email.

Ive been freelancing in one capacity or another for more than 29 years. 

The opportunities are greater today than they ever were in 1982!

It’s no surprise…..the economy sucks. Most companies are firing NOT hiring people!

But, in all the desperation, uncertainty and calamity is opportunity. I’m not kidding!

Most companies and businesses may be firing people in droves but they still need certain tasks done…and they’re willing to pay for them.

Here some of the freelance opportunities in DEMAND right now:

Programming

Business development

Legal

All things Google (SEO, SEM, advertising, back-linking, etc)

Sales

Graphic design

Webmasters

Social Media Managers

Engineers

Accounting and Finance

Network Administration and Security

Keep in mind….these are only the web-based freelance opportunities!

There are boatloads of “offline” freelance opportunities too; such as:

Medical and dental

Sales

Paralegal

Real estate

Restaurants

Hotels and resorts

Programming

Analysts & Accounting

Marketing

Driving

There are just too many opportunities to list!

In this week’s issue I’ve included more than twenty resources to help you land a great freelance gig.

If you need more recommendations or “one-on-one” assistance, drop me a note. I’d love to hear from you!

Have fun and play nice.

This is the “Freelance Decade”!

Your humble host,

Marc Charles

*** Action Strategy ***

Start researching freelance opportunities!
Don’t put it off.
The truth is…….
Hundreds of thousands of people (probably millions) would love some freelance gigs…just like my friend in today’s article.
But something holds them back….or they’re too busy with other things.
At first, freelance projects won’t be handed to you on a silver platter.
Actually…..I take that back!
I’ve had freelance projects handed to me on a silver platter, without any effort. But that’s because I laid a foundation of contacts and I was ready to “receive” projects without hesitation.
Anyway….if freelance interests you then get crackin! 

Set an objective to secure a freelance project in 7 days or less (then send me a note about your success)

**********Valuable Resources*************

FlexJobs (Excellent)

Solvate

FreshWebJobs

Guru.com

eLance

CraigsList.org (250+ cities, hundreds of freelance opportunities under Gigs category)

Get A Freelancer

DirectResponseJobs

Freelance Central

Monster Freelance

Media Bistro

NoAgenciesPlease

SimplyHired

CrunchBoard

Post your freelance availability with these great tools:

Google AdWords (link keyword ads to your bio page or blog)

Yahoo! Small Business (keyword advertising)

ExactSeek (prepaid keyword advertising)

Microsoft Advertising

Monster (Advanced freelance search)

CareerBuilder (Advanced freelance search)

SmartHunt (Freelance & Contract section)

PaidContent (Freelance search)
Fiverr.com

Recommended Reading:

Get Clients Now by C.J. Hayden

Selling Your Services by Robert Bly

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